Automaton
1890s (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Roullet-Decamps was one of the most famous French automata makers. The company was founded in 1865 by Jean Roullet and took the name Roullet-Decamps in 1889, ten years after the marriage of the daughter of Jean Roullet to Ernest Decamps, a mechanic by profession. The company ceased operation in 1995.
The rabbit in a cabbage is one of Roullet-Decamps signature automata. When wound up the rabbit rises from the cabbage, turns and nods its head, opens and closes its mouth, pricks up its ears and ducks back down into the cabbage.
The rabbit in a cabbage is one of Roullet-Decamps signature automata. When wound up the rabbit rises from the cabbage, turns and nods its head, opens and closes its mouth, pricks up its ears and ducks back down into the cabbage.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Fur, fabric and metal |
| Brief description | Automaton, clockwork, fur and fabric rabbit in a cabbage, made by Roullet-Decamps, France, 1890s. |
| Physical description | Automaton representing a rabbit inside a cabbage. It is a pot-shape that has been covered with pieces of green material representing vegetable leaves out of which protrudes the head of a long-eared white rabbit. The rabbit is covered with real rabbit fur, has hair whiskers and black and pink glass eyes. On the left hand side of the cabbage is a keyhole and a metal control which slides in and out to operate the mechanism inside. Metal key comprising a cylindrical barrel and solid circular grip pierced with a small hole. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Roullet-Decamps was one of the most famous French automata makers. The company was founded in 1865 by Jean Roullet and took the name Roullet-Decamps in 1889, ten years after the marriage of the daughter of Jean Roullet to Ernest Decamps, a mechanic by profession. The company ceased operation in 1995. The rabbit in a cabbage is one of Roullet-Decamps signature automata. When wound up the rabbit rises from the cabbage, turns and nods its head, opens and closes its mouth, pricks up its ears and ducks back down into the cabbage. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.152:1, 2-2010 |
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| Record created | July 7, 2011 |
| Record URL |
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